(Following every game I'm going to do a 'Giants Spotlight' on a specific player. You'll help pick a player, I'll go to the game tape and watch every snap from that player. Send your suggestions to me after every game via Twitter, Facebook or email jraanan@hotmail.com.)

The Giants' defensive ends and linebackers are pilfering passes. Their cornerbacks are making tackles at the line of scrimmage.

This is apparently what it looks like when a defense is clicking, with all 11 parts working in unison. The Giants defense has allowed just two touchdowns in their last 18 quarters, and none through the air since a loss in Chicago almost six weeks ago.

Quietly, cornerback Prince Amukamara has become an integral part of the success. In his third year, the former first-round pick is contributing in ways beyond just covering opposing wide receivers.

Amukamara made a pair of stops at the line of scrimmage in the running game on Sunday against Green Bay. It may not seem like much, but it’s a valuable added weapon to a defense that has proven stout on the interior.

It’s even more impressive when you look closely at the plays. Amukamara was 1-on-1 with powerful Packers running back Eddie Lacy. Usually, Lacy wins that battle against a cornerback. At 230 pounds, Lacy is generally able to power for three or four yards, minimum.

Not against Amukamara, who tackled Lacy at the line of scrimmage early in the third quarter on this second-down play (see picture 1). No gain.

Amukamara was charged with a great responsibility on the play. His job was to protect the edge and not allow Lacy outside. You can see Amukamara angled perfectly and with his body under control, so as not to let Lacy get to the sideline. If he does, there was plenty of room to run. Instead, the third-year cornerback tackled Lacy on the spot.

Two plays later, they met again (see picture 2). Lacy tried to bounce outside. No luck. Amukamara made the tackle for a one-yard loss.

“Prince made some huge, huge stops in the run game,” linebacker Jon Beason said. “That was amazing. To see our corner come up and get two tackles for a loss, I think it was on the same drive, guys are really buying in and just doing their job.”

This likely wasn’t an accident, either. It was by design that Amukamara was asked to play such a prominent role in the Giants’ run defense.

Amukamara leads the Giants with 55 total tackles (three for a loss) and two forced fumbles. He is ranked as the 10th-best cornerback against the run this season, according to Pro Football Focus.

And as proven Sunday, he’s a significant factor in why the Giants are ranked seventh in the NFL against the run. The Giants faced top 8 running backs in five of their past six games. None have rushed for more than 67 yards.

The Giants appear to have a player in Amukamara. He’s a rare cornerback that can tackle and cover.

In coverage on Sunday, Amukamara was solid, much like he’s been during most of this breakout season. His physicality was key.

Amukamara spent most of the afternoon lined up across from wide receiver James Jones. He faced Jones on 44 of Green Bay’s 54 offensive plays. Jones finished with two receptions for 55 yards.

With Amukamara outside, the Giants have played significantly more press coverage this season than in the past. They did it again on Sunday against the Packers.

Amukamara tried to jam Jones at the line of scrimmage on six of 10 first-half pass plays. Two of the plays where he was in soft coverage came at the end of the half when the Giants were in a prevent defense. So, really, the Giants asked their corners to play press coverage on six of eight pass plays in the first half.

They wouldn’t have done that the past few years. They couldn’t do that the past few years. The Giants didn’t have the personnel to successfully play that technique. Amukamara (6-foot-0, 207 pounds) and Trumaine McBride (5-foot-9, 185 pounds), who defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said last week plays way bigger than his size, allow the Giants to play the physical coverage more often. They played press coverage most of the first three quarters on Sunday, before softening up with a lead late in the game.

View full sizePicture 3: Prince Amukamara missed James James on this play. It went for a 45-yard reception.

The Packers tested Amukamara five times in man-to-man coverage. Jones caught two passes for 55 yards, including a 45-yarder in the second quarter where Amukamara whiffed (see picture 3) at the line of scrimmage. It was one of the rare mistakes from the Giants' top cornerback.

Amukamara knocked Jones off his spot on two other passes. They both went for incompletions. The only other completion he allowed was a 10-yard slant in the second half.

Overall, though, it was another successful afternoon for Amukamara and the Giants' defense. One where Amukamara was able showcase his burgeoning all-around game.